Actually, i did make a number of investments, both common stock and municipal bonds. I didn't include any income from those in what i previously said, as i have not had to draw upon them. My private company pensions are from two companies i previously worked for, and elected to put in the maximum i could in the company's private pension plan. These were run "properly" - the company made monthly payments to a SEC monitored 'management' firm not connected to my employer. We had options as to what we wanted to invest in (offered by the outside management firm). Once the contribution was made, my employer could not touch the funds. I could make withdrawals in emergencies, but they discouraged it. When i left the company, and after i exceeded 65, i was given choices as to what sort of distribution i wanted. With one of them, i opted for $500/month for life. So far, it's paid off
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I am based in the US. Puerto Rico is too hot for me. Right now, it's about 34 centigrade, and about 80% humidity. When i go, i REALLY try to schedule my visits for mid to late November [when it's cooler]. That period is also 'off season' - so the hotel rates are less, and there are fewer touristas. Restaurants have 40 or 50 tables, with about 5 customers at peak meal time, and about 4 wait staff. Your food is REALLY quick out of the kitchen - as they are waiting for business! The buses are no more than half full - never a problem finding a seat. I called one of my clients right after the storm. I got some satellite overhead photos, but the tree cover was so heavy, i couldn't see if there were roofs on the buildings. Finally i 'went basic' and called them on the phone. I got the fellow i usually work with. He said that their power was off (at their offices - not at the SATCOM facility), and that the only way he could talk to me, was they had run an extension cord next door to a bodega, so they could run a computer. Other than that, he said that they had no lights, no air conditioning, and no water. He added: "It's good you're not here right now - you wouldn't like it". I asked why. He said it's 35C and over 90% humidity, and there is NO air conditioning anywhere. I agreed i would defer any thoughts of a trip - but wished him well.
I spent nearly 3 years in the near east [working for the US Federal government]. After that, i worked for them around D.C. for about another 12 yrs, and then found that i was being taken advantage of. I 'shopped my file' around the beltway, and got a 'best offer' that was a 37.5% salary rise from my government pay, as well as considerably less BS than i had to put up with in the government. I left the government, and did the rest of my career 'privately'. I've worked in nearly every US state & Canada [Saskatoon], as well as working & living in 14 countries doing engineering. I enjoyed them all whilst i was doing it, but some of them i don't think i'd go back to - due to the current risks with jihadists. As i lived in that part of the world for nearly 3 years, i can assure you that things are MUCH worse than you would think - restricting your reading and information to what you read in your (or my) local press. I'm glad i took the trouble to get a CCP. I may well need it before this is over. Take care. Cheers.